Gold Country Buzzards

Gold Country Ol’ Buzzards Game Report #7

May 16, 2010

Free Agents Drop One To Buzzards, 7-6

With the international Amgen Bike Tour messing with normal routes to Colfax High for many Buzzards, the warm-up time was limited with game time looming at 2 pm. The day otherwise was another perfect afternoon for baseball. The undefeated Free Agents traveled up to the Gold Country for a second battle with the Ol’ Buzzards. The Buzzards opened the season on March 21 with a 5-0 loss to the Free Agents in Folsom.

The Free Agents sent the crafty right-hander, Tim “Big Man” Burkett #16, to the mound while the Buzzards countered with their ace lefty, Dave “Keppy” Kephart #21. Even though Tim is a big guy, his throwing motion and his variety of pitches including lots of off-speed stuff, make him a perennial all-star. Keppy mostly ‘rocks and fires’ for effective heat and throws lots of hard nasty pitches. He has broken over a half dozen bats already this season. This sort of pitching match-up usually means a close and low scoring game.

The Free Agents struck first with two runs in the top of the second inning. Three hits and two errors led to the runs. The Free Agents had the bases loaded and no outs, but a couple of ground ball outs and a strikeout stopped the early rally.

The Buzzards bounced back with two of their own in the bottom half. Charles “CJ” Jackson led off with a hard groundball single through the infield into left. After CJ stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch, Mike “Bake” Baker dropped a single into shallow center field scoring the first run. Pete “Baron” Von Zboray followed with a line drive hit to right-center putting runners at first and third with one out. Keppy then smacked an outside pitch to the left side that was bobbled by the shortstop for an error and scoring run number two to tie the game.

In the third inning, the visiting Free Agents scored quickly with a leadoff double to center field followed by a sharp single to center scoring the lone run in the inning on the first six pitches.

The Ol’ Buzzards tied the game with one run in the fourth. CJ led off the inning with a line drive to left field. Dan “Wookie” Wukmir, after fouling off five pitches, looped a ball between charging outfielders in right and center. CJ waited halfway for the ball to drop before moving to second, but was thrown out in a close play at the bag by a strong throw from the center fielder. Bake then hit a 1-2 pitch liner into left field putting runners at second and first. The Baron then hit a 1-2 curveball at the shortstop for a fielder’s choice forcing Bake at second. With two outs, lefty Keppy hit a hot grounder that bounced through the third baseman and down the line to get that key run to make the score 3-3.

The persistent Free Agents scored again in the next inning. With one out, the top of the order came through with three hits pushing across a run to take the lead for the third time in the game.

The Gold Country guys scored the game tying run with two outs in the bottom half of the fifth. Taylor “Welzy” Welz got it going with a solid single to right-center. With everyone knowing that Welzy was going on the pitch, he still got a good jump and stole second base with a hard head-first slide. With a runner in scoring position, Fred “Freddie” O’Donoghue was the next batter. On a full-count pitch, he knocked in T-Welz with a nice line drive to right field. The score after five innings was 4-4.

The Buzzards went ahead in the bottom of the seventh by scoring two runs to take a 6-4 lead. The Baron got on first base via an infield error. On the next pitch, Keppy hit a dribbler toward first base. The pitcher, Big Tim, got to the ball and rushed his throw and over threw the covering first baseman in a near collision with Keppy, putting runners at first and second. Mark “Ronnie” Wronski followed with an 0-2 single to deep right-center field scoring the Baron.

Ronnie’s deep hit hung in the air allowing the outfielders to get close before it fell near the fence. Wookie, running for Kep, had to hold up half-way to second base before hitting the ol’ jets and pushing for third. Alas, the ball bounced right to the center fielder with a strong throw to the second baseman followed with a perfect strike to third to get the hard sliding Wook by an eye lash. Ouch, not good making the first out at third base.

Don “Redondo” Colbert then hit a rope to left field putting runners at first and second. Scott “Donut” Reeves then singled to load the bases with one out and with one run scored. Welzy, batting next, hit a grounder to short. Mike “Mouth” Wilson #91 had been booting grounders all day at shortstop, but this time he gloved it and threw to second for the force out of Donut.  Ronnie, running from third on the play, crossed home plate for the important second run, right before the second baseman threw a back-door strike to the third baseman nailing a wide-turning Redondo diving back for the bag for a double play. But, because it was not a force out, the second run counted. Ouch, not good making the last out at third base.

After the first batter struck out in the top of the eighth, the Free Agents turned three singles, a walk, and an error on an oh-so-close double play (6-3) to tie the game at 6-6. After blowing a two run lead, the Ol’ Buzzards now had one more chance to score against the Free Agents.

Wookie led off by hitting a flair to right field. The outfielder got a late jump on the ball and had to charge hard to get to the sinking ball. The ball hit the end of his glove and bounced to the ground, putting the oldest Buzzard on first base. Bake then got the bunt sign and hit a high inside pitch for a tough sacrifice bunt toward third advancing Wook into scoring position. Keppy then fouled off four pitches before striking out for the second out.

Ronnie, batting next, hit the first pitch high and deep to right field. The fielder appeared to have the angle on the catch and it appeared this game was going into extra innings tied at 6. However, a local Buzzard was seen flying in the sky late in the game and chose this moment to cast his shadow and gugu on the Free Agent player, who then reached up only to see the ball tip off the end of his glove and over his head for the game winning dropped fly ball. In disbelief, the fielder turned to chase down the ball only to see Wook scoring the game winner from second base. Wow, what a way to win 7-6 over the now once-defeated Free Agents.  Good game and way to hang in there guys. Those six errors only made the game more exciting.

Kephart pitched a great game against a strong hitting team. Eight of the Free Agents got the 13 hits and no FA had a big offensive day. The only extra base hit was a led off double in the third inning. The top four batters got seven of their hits. Mouth Wilson was 2-4 with two singles. Kep faced 43 batters while throwing 147 pitches (97 strikes & 50 balls) in working a complete nine innings. After hitting four batters last game, Keppy missed everyone this game in striking out eight and walking two with three wild pitches in giving up only two earned runs.

The defense was a little porous (6 times) plus a missed foul ball, all pretty much on routine type plays. Hey, *** happens, but seven defensive miscues are a bit much. The infield was busy and did make some outstanding plays in the game. In the sixth, Welzy made two terrific plays. The diving stop of a nasty bouncer that was knocked down and then Welz threw to second for the force out. And the quick run into left field to rob the batter of a flare base hit to end that inning. The other memorable play occurred in the seventh inning with two outs and a Free Agent on third base with the game tied at 4. The ball was hit high and to shallow right field with Wookie from second base running to get underneath the ball. As the ball was coming down with back-spin, it drifted away from where Wook was angling to catch it. As he stopped and shouted, “oh sh**”, the reverse pirouette with a back-hand catch move was made, not-as-planned, to secure the third out and stranding the go-ahead run. Nice catch for an ol’ Buzzard.

The offense was solid in getting 14 hits against crafty Big Tim. There were several clutch at-bats. The two-out big knocks by Keppy in the fourth and Freddie in the fifth to tie the game and Baker’s sacrifice bunt in the ninth were noteworthy. And Mark knew just where to hit that last fly ball. The multi hit gang this game included Bake, CJ, Donut and Welzy. The RBI’s were knocked in by Bake, Freddie, Kep-2, Ronnie-2 and T-Welz. Nice come-back Buzzards.

 Buzzard Note #1: This Sunday’s games will be a double dip against the Valley Cats at Bradshaw Christian High School in Elk Grove. The weather forecast says Sunday will be in the 70s and we’re playing on the best field in the region. First game starts at 10 am. Car pooling will be available at the Newcastle Park & Ride off Hwy 80 near the gas station at 7:45 am. Bring lunch including bananas for between games energy builder. If there is enough interest, we will stop on the way back for dinner.

Buzzard Note #2: August 1st is confirmed for the KAHI 950 AM radio game. It will start at 3 pm against the Coyotes at James Field in Auburn. Our game will follow the KAHI broadcast of the A’s at Chicago. We will have a BBQ with the Coyotes in the picnic area after the game.